Japanese whisky producer Nikka has unveiled two special releases to commemorate four decades of its iconic square-bottled blend. The company announced a limited-edition Extra Marriage expression and a three-bottle gift set to celebrate the milestone.
First launched in 1985, Nikka From The Barrel broke from industry trends by delivering whisky directly from the cask in its distinctive small square bottle. The original release established a reputation for balancing power with precision under Chief Blender Shigeo Sato’s direction.
Nikka From The Barrel 40th Anniversary Extra Marriage Edition
The anniversary Extra Marriage edition extends the original recipe’s cask marriage period to twice the standard length. This extended aging process allows the blend of over 100 whiskies to develop greater complexity and depth.
The blend combines malt whiskies from Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries with grain whiskies produced in Coffey stills imported from Scotland in 1963. Yoichi contributes intense peated and marine notes, while Miyagikyo adds fruit and suppleness. The grain whiskies provide structure and roundness to the final product.
According to official tasting notes, the nose opens with beeswax, iris butter, roasted pineapple, and nutmeg. The palate reveals medicine, smoke, and lemon zest flavors. The finish is described as energetic and silky with barley sugar and candied ginger notes.
The Extra Marriage bottling comes in the original square bottle design with a new silver label. It contains 51.4% alcohol by volume in a 500ml size. Pricing is set at €55 (~$65) for the limited release, available from late September through La Maison du Whisky stores and select retailers.
Three-Bottle Gift Set Showcases Nikka From The Barrel 40th Anniversary Blend Components
A second anniversary release offers whisky enthusiasts insight into the blend’s construction. The limited gift set includes the Extra Marriage expression alongside two component bottlings: Malt Pieces of the Barrel and Grain Pieces of the Barrel.
Malt Pieces of the Barrel highlights the blend’s malt elements with pronounced peat and smoke character. Official tasting notes describe intense malt, herbs, fruit, and medicinal flavors contributed by the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.
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Grain Pieces of the Barrel showcases the grain whisky components with vanilla, fruit, herbal and floral notes. This bottling demonstrates how grain whiskies provide roundness and consistency to the final blend.
“By combining these three expressions, this gift set provides rare insight into the creation of NIKKA FROM THE BARREL, offering the chance to understand each element individually before experiencing their perfect harmony in Extra Marriage,” the company stated.
The three-bottle set carries a suggested retail price of €290 (~$340) and will be available from mid-October through La Maison du Whisky stores and selected retailers.
Both anniversary releases represent limited productions honoring 40 years of what Nikka describes as combining “power, balance, and respect for time” in its flagship blended whisky.
